Lillian A. D’Ercole
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Lillian A. D’Ercole at the age of 99. She leaves behind a legacy of love, warmth, and cherished memories that will forever remain in our hearts.
Lillian was born in Lucca, Italy on Nov. 5, 1923. She and her mother immigrated to the US when she was 18 months old. She grew up in Blue Island, IL, and graduated from Blue Island High School. In 1945, she married the love of her life, Donald J. D’Ercole.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt, whose devotion to her family was unwavering. She dedicated her life to nurturing her four children, Donald D’Ercole (Tom, Bridgeman, MI), Dale D’Ercole, (Sharon, Orland Park, IL), Pat D’Ercole (Stevens Point, WI), and Juli Bothwell (Rod, Orland Park, IL). In her quiet, humble way, she created a home filled with love and laughter. Her kindness and compassion knew no bounds, and her wisdom was a guiding light for all who knew her.
She had an extraordinary talent for cooking, and her kitchen was a place where she created not just meals but memories such as “ravioli school” and classes in making her famous biscotti. Her recipes will continue to be treasured, passed down through generations.
Sewing, knitting, and crocheting was yet another of her talents, and her creations were a testament to her creativity and attention to detail. She made everything for her children from pajamas to prom dresses to suit jackets and crocheted blankets for each of her grandchildren. Her hand-sewn gifts and clothing were cherished by all lucky enough to receive them.
Lillian shared 66 years of marriage with her husband, Don. Their enduring love story was a true inspiration, a testament to the power of love and commitment.
If there is one word that characterizes Lillian’s life, it was her thankfulness. Perhaps that’s because she was a survivor of four different cancers over the course of 35 years and the little things in life and, life itself, became more precious. The last 17 years were cancer-free. She passed just 33 days short of her 100th birthday.
Lillian is survived by her 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, her sister, Florence Macri (nee Giannoni, Franklin, MA) and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, her son-in-law, Rod and her sister, Lorraine.
In her passing, Lillian leaves behind a family who adores her, friends who admire her, and a community that will miss her warm presence. While we mourn her loss, we also celebrate the remarkable life she lived and the love she shared. Her memory will forever be a beacon of love, and her legacy will continue to flourish in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her.
May she rest in eternal peace.
Visitation Friday 4-8 p.m.
Funeral Saturday 10:15 a.m. from the Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st Street, Orland Park, IL to St. Michael Church, Mass 11:00 a.m.
Interment St. Benedict Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to theNuestros Pequeños Hermanos at https://nphusa.org/ referencing the donation is in memory of Lillian D’Ercole for El Salvador or the American Suzuki Foundation, PO Box 532, Stevens Point, WI 54481 in Lillian’s honor.
October 7, 2023 – 11:00am cst
The live stream will begin about 10 minutes before the service starts. Please press the play button in the player above. You will see a screen stating that the live stream will begin shortly along with some soft music to make sure your speakers are working properly. Once the stream has ended, the video will be available to view once it has been uploaded. We recommend using Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Microsoft Edge web browsers. Internet Explorer may not work due to Microsoft’s discontinued support of the browser.